Arch support for footwear



Sept. 13, 1932. J MAY 1,877,522

ARCH SUPPORT FOR FOOTWEAR Filed NOV. 12, 1928 ATTaRA/a-K Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTfoFFrcn,

i JSEIPH MAY, or FRANkron'r-o rn'E-M iin; GERMANY ARCH snrronr non m wers f Application filed November 12, 1928, Serial No. 318,659, and in France October 6, 1928,?"1

The present invention relates to arch sup port for footwear, consisting of two or more superposed blade springs of different length I for supporting the arch of the foot. The 5 longest of these springs is at the bottom and the shortest at the top so that the ends of each of the shorter springs will bear on the top of the next longest spring arranged underneath, and thus have space for free movement.

The separate springs are all of difi'erent curvature the shorter springs having a greater curvature than the springs underneath them. At the centre of the curvature they gether.

The connection may be effected by riveting, by a detachable screw connection or even by spot welding. The separate blade springs may rest directly one upon the other there may, thin layers ber, either hard or soft, or vulcanized fibre.

however be also provided very that the connectionof the separate blade springs is only at the point of arching, and

I its ends on the sole of the footwear, whilst the next shorter spring bears on the back of the first spring, the next spring on the back of the second spring and so on. Any suitable number of separate blade springs may be arranged one upon the other according to the supporting power adapted to be imparted to the complete structure. It will be understood that the arch support may also consist of onlytwo superposed springs. The separate spring blades need not have the same general outline. Thus, for example, the lowermost spring may be shaped in the form of a sole extending to'the region of the 3 ball of the foot whilst may be semi-circular. The springs located between the lowermost and the uppermost spring need not be formed in one piece but, for the purpose of increasing the elasticity, may be longitudinally divided, therefore consisting of two narrower springs which are gripped or clamped between the lowermost the uppermost spring blademay alsobe provided with longitudinal at their point of connection. At this point I of another material such as rub- I a consideration with. separate supporting and .balancinggmeanssuchas pads, wedges and the like; When of narrow shapeand without .a l'eathercoyer;oracase the; new arch support can alsogbeus ed -asa-smcalled spring hinge .for -,insertion, between the tread and inner creasing the elasticity the lowermost-blade spring may beprovid'ed with one or more longitudinal slots which do-not ex'tend entirelyj up to. the ends of the. spring. In forms of --.coi1struction of thecharacter. last described the uppermost bladei spring; bridges, over both the-intermediate spaces between the -middle narrow blade spring and: the longitudinal slot-inthe lowermost blade spring, and is directly connected to the latter. so that the intermediate.sipringlayers are drawn togetherithereby. 1: When-the connecting means 15 are connected together and firmly pressed tobetween the 'upper-;-and lower sprlngyare The new arch support -for'footwear enables thin, .veryrelastic and light separate springs to be used, which may also be'made oflight It is essential, according to the invention,

metals, and whilst having a high degree of elasticity and greater lightness has a. very high supportingca'pacity and rigidity. that only the lowermost spring will bear at I The spring itself or the case which receives it may-also be provided at the points under soleat the shoe joint.

In the accompanying drawing s illustrated two examples of construction ofthe subj ect "of the invention inithe form of arch supports adapted to be loosely fittedinto eu footwear. 1 P

In accordance ofi eonstruction shown in Figures 1 to 3 the arch support consists of three separatebladesprings, each made of one piece; of-dilferentsizes but hav-.

ing substantially thesamej outline,'which are connected together by a screw connectlon, WllllSt.thQ CODStI HClJIOII shown In Flgures l to 5 consists. ofthree differently shaped springs of which the; middle-one is formed In Figures 1 to 3, a, a a, indicate the separate 'blade springs of 'diflerent curvature which are firmly pressed itogether :or against one another by meansofascr'ew b secured {tothe underside of the uppermostspring against the sole f thefootwear and thus prevents further flattening"of the arch supb'la dea at the middl'eofithe curvature thereblade spring and being connected to the latter, the upper blade spring bridging both the space between the intermediate blade springs and the slot in the lower blade spring and being connected directly to the lower blade spring so that the intermediate blade springs are drawn and held together by the upper spring and the lower spring.

In testimony whereof I aflixed my signature.

JOSEPH MAY.

of and passing through holes czin the other t spring blades-andv adapted tobeienga ged by when the "arch :support is flattened bears port. 7 In cases where theseparatespring blades are connected to'gether at the point of arching by rivets, spot' wle'lding or the like anutd. Oniithe nut-d is fittBdQ fPaCl'G Qf elastic material, for example rubber, which a pad 'for limiting the movem nt w I {fitted' in "the curvature-of the lowermost spring blade preferably 'on to pins or the ilike provided for "the purpose. 1f theya'rch -supportdstmbe enelosedlin-a ease of leather a or the like the pads for limiting the amount of flattening "can be providedon thecase, in-

as described 13013.

stead of 'on the" spring, the case also being provided'with-other auxiliary means as for example supporting and position balancing Qpads-orthejlike; r

In Figures etandfi, 7 indicates the lower- 'most' 'blade springwhic'hisof 'theishape of an insole extending up "to the region of the ball and is provided with a'longitudinalslot g =by which deleterious stresses =when loading thespring are-eliminated. T0 the lowermost spring fare riveted at 71,4" two narrow blade springs h, 72, and-to these springs fhfk there is secured at l=tothe"lowermost spring fa 7 semi-circular plate h-also of resilient ma- "terial.

' Also this' form of construction may be provided with resilient pads foilimitingfthe flattening ofthe lowermost spring-andi with a leather sole or it may be fitted intoafcase -in connection with Figures 1 *I claim as my invention:

An arch support for footwear consisting of alower'longer bladespringprovided with a longitudinalslot, an upper shorter blade spring, and two narrow "intermediate blade --spr1ngs located 1n spaced relation on said lower blade spring and -beneath said upper 

